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Brazil and Canada

Lucy Siegle enters the Amazon jungle with a fashion designer trying to bolster indigenous culture; Jennifer Chevalier learns why separatism is losing some of its appeal in Quebec.

Two tales of culture and identity from the Americas. Although Brazil has a thriving fashion industry, its inspiration and aspirations are largely drawn from Europe and the US; but Patricia Guerra wants to draw more on local traditions and motifs. Lucy Siegle enters the Brazilian Amazon rainforest with a fashion designer - who's trying to bolster indigenous culture - and an anthropologist who eases visitors' way into the social rituals of life among the Ye'kuana group.

In Canada, however, a movement to make things more regional might be running out of steam: Jennifer Chevalier examines why separatism is losing some of its appeal at the ballot box in Quebec, after the rout of the Parti Quebecois in recent elections.

Presenter: Pascale Harter
Producer: Polly Hope

Photo: Status symbols traditional and modern, worn by a member of the Ye'kuana indigenous group in Brazil, autumn 2013. (c) Lucy Siegle

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11 minutes

Last on

Fri 18 Apr 2014 19:50GMT

Broadcast

  • Fri 18 Apr 2014 19:50GMT